Bob Henson, a meteorologist and blogger for Weather Underground, said although June 1 is the official beginning of hurricane season, storms typically begin to ramp up in July and then peak in August and September as the tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters warm.

“On average, you’re going to see more tropical systems in July, August and September than in June, mainly for that reason,” Henson said.

Tropical Storm Cindy, June 20, 2017.

Update 11 a.m.: Potential tropical cyclone 3 is still chugging toward the Gulf Coast, and while it has become more organized since yesterday, it still lacks a closed circulation that would classify it a tropical storm.

At the 11 a.m. forecast, the National Hurricane Center said the system could still become a sub tropical or tropical storm later today. If it becomes a tropical storm, it would be named Cindy.

Maximum winds are 40 mph, and although some strengthening is expected, they are forecast to top out at 45 mph.

An Air Force hurricane hunter mission is scheduled to go into the system this morning.

“The primary hazard form this disturbance is expected to be heavy rainfall over portions of the central and eastern Gulf Coast,” hurricane center forecasters wrote.

Because much of the rain is on the east and north sides of the storm, the center is cautioning against focusing on the track forecast which doesn’t reflect how much rain the system can bring.

Forecast rain totals through 7 a.m. Friday.

Update 8 a.m.: Tropical storm-force winds could reach Louisiana and Texas as early as this afternoon as a system treks northwest toward the coast.

The system – potential tropical cyclone 3 – has a 90 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm in the next 48 hours. As of the 8 a.m. forecast, the system was 265 miles south-southwest of the Mississippi River and moving northwest at 9 mph.

Previous story: The National Hurricane Center expects a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico to develop into a tropical or subtropical storm today before making landfall along the Louisiana or Texas coast Thursday.

If a tropical storm forms, it would be named Cindy. Tropical Storm Bret formed Monday east of the Windward Islands.

Overnight, infrared satellite imagery suggested that potential tropical cyclone three’s – the would-be Cindy – circulation has become gradually better defined, but is still struggling to maintain organized showers and does not have a defined center. A closed circulation is required to be labeled a tropical cyclone.

The system, dubbed potential tropical cyclone 3, was about 325 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River early this morning with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moving northwest at 8 mph.

As of the 5 a.m. forecast, tropical storm watches and warnings continue along coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 205 miles, mainly on the east side of the system.

Storm 2016

About the Author

Kim Miller is the weather reporter for The Palm Beach Post.

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